The need to develop a modern, diversified, efficient and financially sustainable ‘energy economy’ that will ensure all Ghanaian homes and industries have access to adequate, reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable supplies of energy cannot be over-emphasised.
However, this economic transformative agenda may not be fully realised without a well trained, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workforce.
To achieve this, the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) is committed to developing a ready workforce for the Petroleum Hub Project in attaining the president’s lofty ideals.
The ambitious private sector-led project, valued at over US$60billion, is to be developed in three phases – with contracts for Phase 1 having already been executed with a consortium of Chinese and local investors.
in view of this, PHDC has initiated a capacity-building programme aimed at training Ghanaians – skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled – across various modules in the petroleum downstream sector. These trainees will provide an essential support base for investors in constructing vital infrastructure, including civil works and drainage systems.
In line with this, PHDC is collaborating with Canary Consulting & Trading (CCT) and Aurum Global Partners (AGP) on enhancing our people’s capabilities to properly fit into the petroleum industry.
Partnering to achieve this are the University of Las Palmas; Finnova Foundation; and Cassa Africa of the Government of Canary Islands – three institutions whose achievements are well-known in the petroleum industry.
The University of Las Palmas, for instance, is well-known for its cutting-edge research and technical expertise in environmental technologies & sustainable development. Its involvement will therefore provide potential trainees with world-class skills and knowledge.
This cooperation is expected to reinforce the ‘Sister-Sister’ regional relationship between Ghana’s Western Region and the Canary Islands of Spain, focusing on innovation and education. Training modules will include:
- Environmental technologies for handling hazardous materials
- Best practices in oil and gas maintenance
- Air pollution prevention and water treatment management
- Smart city development and sustainability
- Fire prevention and pipeline safety
- Project management planning
PHDC’S collaboration with CCT and AGP represents a unified effort to enhance human capital, natural resources and position local workforces as key players in the global petroleum downstream sector.
To demonstrate how significant this project is, Vice President and Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has touted the massive job creation potential of Petroleum Hub’s initiative, describing it as a major transformative policy that will create 780,000 direct and indirect jobs for Ghanaians.
He declared his support for the Petroleum Hub Project, located in the Western Nzema Traditional Area, when he spoke on his plans to provide jobs for the youth on Sunday 3rd November.
The Vice President also announced Petroleum Hub Development Corporation’s Job Creation Data Repository will be launched before end of the year to facilitate job seekers acquiring jobs within the hub.
Government in June signed a US$12billion agreement with the TCP-UIC consortium to implement the Petroleum Hub Project’s initial phase – first of its kind in Africa.
Subsequently, a ground-breaking ceremony for the multiphase megaproject’s Phase 1 was held at Jomoro in August 2024.
